Royal Mail to explain complex pension proposals

Unite calls on Royal Mail to explain ‘complex’ pension proposals

The Royal Mail has been called on to explain the ‘complex’ nature of its pensions’ proposals to the workforce in greater detail by Unite, the country’s largest union.

Today’s (Tuesday 8 August) call comes after the 6,000 Royal Mail managers, represented by Unite, were equally divided in a consultative ballot over whether to accept the company’s pensions’ package.

Unite officer for the Royal Mail Brian Scott said: “The main message is that the evenly split ballot result demonstrates the complexity of the company’s position.

“Individuals did not feel comfortable with the proposal they were faced with, bearing in mind it would have a major impact on the income they will receive in retirement.

“Unite will be discussing with the Royal Mail management as to how a more detailed, but also simplified, set of information can be supplied to our members.

“While the latest pension position was an improvement on the original proposal, ‘the mission to explain’ needs greater clarity as these are complex proposals.”

The ballot turnout was 28 percent with 49 per cent voting to accept the company’s position with 51 per cent voting to reject it.

In a statement, the Royal Mail had said that it is offering members the choice of joining either a defined benefit cash balance scheme or a defined contribution scheme. Royal Mail said it is one of few companies offering to replace one defined benefit scheme with another.

Unite has about 6,000 members working for the Royal Mail that is now a privately-owned company, following its controversial sell-off by the coalition government after five centuries of state ownership.